Iran Nuclear Crisis Sees Deal Emerging in Geneva: Kerry Changes Plans
US, UK, French and German foreign ministers are making unscheduled trips to Geneva to join talks between Iran and the so-called P5+1 delegates. Details have not been released but Iran is expected to halt some enrichment activity for limited sanctions relief.
Israel’s prime minister said such an agreement would be “very bad”.
The West suspects Iran’s uranium enrichment programme is a step towards building nuclear weapons - a charge Iran strongly denies.Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told CNN on Thursday that he was hopeful all sides could reach an agreement before the talks ended on Friday.
The blunt statement from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a stark warning of the problems the Obama administration will have in securing support for its policy both at home and abroad.
Not just Israel but many of Washington’s Gulf allies are uneasy. Mr Netanyahu’s comments represent a call to arms to Israel’s supporters on Capitol Hill where there is considerable scepticism about a possible deal.The danger though is that Mr Netanyahu may be over-reaching. What real alternative is there other than trying to achieve an understanding with Tehran? Any diplomatic effort requires some modest concessions from both sides to try to oil the wheels.
US Secretary of State John Kerry will seek to reassure Mr Netanyahu. A damaging and divisive situation looms where Israel’s interests are cast as being starkly different from those of Washington.
As reports of a deal emerged, US Secretary of State John Kerry, who was in Israel on a Middle East tour, changed his itinerary to fly to Geneva instead.